Washable handbag for women



M U BARNES WASI-[ABLE HANDBAG FOR WOMEN Filed Sept. 19, 1949 II-, f

Merian -Und/'ms' Barnes] Patented Dec. 16, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT AOFFICE WASHABLE HANDBAG FOR WOMEN Merian Undine Barnes, Miami, Fla.

Application September 19, 1949, Serial No. 116,576 2 claims. (c1. 15o-so) This invention relates to certain new anduseful improvements in handbags for use by women and has reference, in particular, to a unique handbag which is launderable and in which users will find their needs fully met, contained and vfor handy carrying, usually beneath ones arm.

Therefore, itis an object of the present invention to provide a handbag which, while made of flimsy, washable fabric, is shape-sustaining, easy to handle and carry, and desirably inexpensive.

Another object of the invention is to provide a handbag which may be opened out and thus spread and converted into flat form, whereby to permit it to be put into a tub or washing machine and washed for subsequent ironing, as would be done with any similar article of apparel.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention, I employ an elongated fabric envelope, the latter being open at one end only, thus providing a washable jacket. Secondly, a semirigid insert, which serves as a stiiening form, is slipped into the envelope by way of said open end and the latter is closed, preferably by a slidefastener, for example, a Zipper type fastener. Then, the envelope with the insert therein is now folded into three parts or divisions, two of which overlap and form a pouch or pocket, the other or third part serving as a closing flap for said pocket. Finally, and by edge-binding, the free edge portions of the first two parts with additionalZipper fasteners and inter-connecting said latter fasteners, an openable and closable pouch is had.

It follows that with the use of two pieces of fabric, three Zippers and a piece of buckram, as a shaping form or backing, and assembling same in a novel manner, I have evolved and produced a novel handbag aptly suited to fulfill the needs of discreet and discriminating users.

Then, too, novelty is predicated on a handbag which, while essentially utilitarian in nature, lends itself to production with requisite factors `of design, style and fascinating eye appeal.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawing.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein like numerals and accompanying lead lines are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing a handbag constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, the same being illustrated as it would appear when spread out flat, por-tions of the fabric being broken away to show end portions of the reinforcing insert. y

Figure 2 isa view in cross-section taken on the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the. direction of the arrows, illustrating the handbag` complete and ready for use. I

Figure 3 is a perspective view, on a smaller scale, showing the complete handbag and the essential portions thereof.

The handbag is characterized by two major units, the substantially rectangular washable fabric envelope and the insertable and removable form-imparting and shape-sustaining non-washable insert. Y

The stated envelope is made up of two simila pieces of fabric, the inner one of which is denoted by the .numeral 5 and the outer one by the numeral 6. These are stitched or sewn together aroundthree edges. That is to say, the two longitudinal edges are stitched together (see Fig. 1) at 'l and 8, respectively. One transverse end is also closed by stitching as at 9. The remaining transverse end I0 is open and itv is through this-open end that the stiffener or insert II is inserted and removed. The insert is preferably a" blank of buckram or equivalent cardboard-like material. It is of an area to substantially fill the envelope, as brought out in Fig. 1. Referringgkagain to the open end I0, suitable fastener means is employed to normally close said end. Although many types of slide fasteners may be employed for this purpose, a so-called Zipper type fastener I2 with a complemental slide I3 is employed. Thus, in practice, the insert is slipped in through the open end I0 to take the position shown in Fig. 1 and the slide fastener is closed to retain the insert in place. The numerals I4 and I5 designate patch pockets which are stitched to the inner fabric 5. The numeral I6 designates a transverse fold line and I1 a similar fold line. Thus, the envelope is divisible into two main parts I8 and I9 and a complemental auxiliary part 20 which constitutes a closing ap. If desired, the flap may be provided with a finger loop 2|. In practice, any suitable fastener means (not detailed) may be employed for keeping the flap closed (see Fig. 3).

Attention is now directed to additional slide fasteners of the aforementioned Zipper type and ,the production of launderable handbags. Avf estly, the shape maybe varied forrnany pleasling` and ornamental effects and materials used these are shown best in Figs. 1 and 3 and are denoted, respectively, on the left by the numeral 22 and on the right by the numeral 23. They are identical in construction and application. The tape portions 24 are stitched to edge-bind the transverse edges of the parts I8 and I9 and the track portions 25 bridge the fold line IB and extend equal distances on opposite sides of same. The numerals 2S designate the respective slides. Obviously/,by lapping the partI8 over'the' part I9 and then closing the'Zipper fasteners as shown in Fig. 3, said parts I8 and I9 collectively combine in defining a pouch or main pocket, the open mouth of which is closed, obviously, bythe aforementioned flap 2IJ.

In Figs. 2 and 3, the complete handbag is illustrated, and in Fig. 3 a portion of the open end of the part I8 is left open to reveala corner portion of the buckram insert I I. Also, this view shows the inside or patch pocket I5. All of these details are brought out on a greatly exaggerated scale in the cross-section of Fig. 2, in which View open position, the iiap having been opened. Now, the handbag may be spread out flat, as shown iin; Fig. 1. Next, by opening the Zipper fastener l. I2, the insertable and removable stiffener or insert I Iiswithdrawn. Consequently, the bag is now sufficiently flimsy that it may be placed in atub or-Washing machine and washed and subls equently ironed, if desired. After the envelope or jacket portion is thusl laundered, the insert fis again restored to its position. I have found that by using a semi-rigid grade of buckram,

same will Alend itself` to folding on the lines IB and I'I and will yet be suiciently firm and. rigid to sustain the handbag to assume the substantiallyrigid form depicted in Figs. 2 and 3.

The article herein shown and described is simple, strong andl reliable, efficient to handle, and represents, itis submitted, a worthy advance in Mani- Which will measure up to expected requirements of discriminating purchasers and users.

lt .may be added, too, that an extraremovable lining (not shown) may bev inserted into the aforementioned pouch. Removable, washable linings for purses, pocket books and handbags are perhaps not new. Removable, washable` cover- -ingsfor leather and other expensive type handbags V are perhaps not new. As far as is known,v a. 'w ashable fabric envelope with an insertable and removablel backing and reinforcing n element and an arrangement of the Zippers 22 and 23 to I nake up a handbagais a novel contribution to this line of endeavor.-

VIn view of the .foregoing description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, it

`is `believed that a clear understanding of the .device will be quite apparent to lthose skilled in this art. A more detailed description is .accordingly 'deemed' unnecessary.

vIt .is to be understood, however, that even though there -is hereinxshown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the is claimed as new is:

1. A handbag for use by women comprising a folding pouch and a foldable closing flap for the mouth portion of said pouch, said pouch embodyinvention, what ingdu'plicate front and back components, the *end portions of "said components being 'provided with fasteners, the latter being readily openable land closable and permitting said flap and comrectangular shape embodying two piecesof cloth superimposed on one another and permanently fastened together along their respective longitudinal edges and permanently vfastened together across their respective transverse end edges at one end and open across the remaining transverse end, separable fastener means. normally closing said open end, a semi-rigid insert fitted into said envelope through said open end and completely filling said envelope and serving to impart and maintain the stated rectangular shape, and separable fasteners .along corresponding portions of the stated longitudinal edges of said envelope, said envelope, in conjunction with the insert, being transversely folded into three dis- MERIAN UNDINE isliiarm's'.l

l REFERENCESCITED The followingreferences are of record'in th le of this patent:

' STATES PATENTS g vUNITED Num-ber Name Date 1,479,591 LEnfant Jan. 1, 1924 1,684,381 .Bahr i-; Sept. 18, 1928 1,867,116 Thornhill et al. July 12, 1932 1,978,970 Thornhill et al Oct. 30, 1934 1,978,971 Thornhill etal Oct.`30, 1934 1,994,746 Bannerir.; Mar. 19, 1935 v2,029,905 Banner Feb. 4, 1936 l 2,059,022 Parkv Oct. 27, 1936 2,100,298 Baxter i Nov..23, 1937 2,126,898 Landis Aug. 16, 1938 2,127,067 Moss- Aug. 16, .1938 2,175,327 Thornhillet al Oct. 10, 1939 2,410,987 Mevrl 1510x412, 1946 1949 2,479,824, Fass 1--. Aug. 23, 

